Are you a fan of retro gaming? Do you want to relive the good old days with classic video games and consoles?
The UK has some of the best retro gaming shops, offering a wide range of retro gaming consoles, games, and accessories that will take you back to the golden age of gaming.
The good, the bad, the highs, the lows, and the endless waiting for cassettes to load.
Here are the top retro gaming shops in the UK that you should definitely check out.
1. RETRO Bristol
Based in Bristol, RETRO Bristol is one of the best retro video game shops for all gaming enthusiasts. They offer a large range of consoles, games, and accessories from all the classic gaming systems. This UK retro game store also has an online shop where you can buy everything they have in stock.
If you want to visit, set your satnav to 11 Brislington Hill, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5BE.
2. The Retro Hunter, Leigh-on-Sea
If you’re in the south east of England, The Retro Hunter is a must-stop destination for retro gamers. With a tidy, spacious interior, this retro game shop attracts visitors from across the UK (although mostly the south east). This vintage video game shop stocks a wide selection of classic platforms, including retro Sega and Nintendo consoles.
Planning a visit? Go to 1172 London Road, Leigh-on-Sea, United Kingdom, SS9 2AH.
3. PlayNation Games, Croydon
Located in Croydon, PlayNation Games is another excellent retro gaming shop in the UK. Here’s what it says on their Facebook page:
Croydon’s best store for Video games both current and oldschool. With a HUGE selection of retro gaming too, we’re London’s BIGGEST retro store and Gaming Café! Want more? We’ve also got tabletop gaming, models and gunpla kits, Yugioh, D&D, Magic the Gathering and more TCG’s as well as a huge game lounge upstairs with regular events. Check us out every week for events in our Gaming Lounge, deals, tournaments and more.
You’ll find this retro gaming store at 44 North End, Croydon, United Kingdom, CR0 1UX.
4. Sore Thumb Games, York
Perhaps my favourite of these vintage game shops is Sore Thumb Games in York. Strangely bigger on the inside, my last visit revealed a huge selection of Amiga titles that I only spotted after paying for some 8-bit cassettes.
Within this retro store, video games for almost all platforms are available, and they have a few unusual systems on sale too. As if that wasn’t enough, Pokemon cards, classic Star Wars figures, and Lego minifigs are also available.
Check my review of this UK retro games store for more thoughts on one of York’s hidden gems, which you’ll find at 7 Gillygate, York YO31 7EA. There is plenty of parking nearby, too.
You can also visit them online at www.sorethumbretrogames.com.
5. That Retro Game Shop, Newcastle
Concluding this list of UK retro game shops is a tiny corner of Newcastle’s famous Grainger Market. Tiny it may be, but this vintage video games store has a great selection within. While I was disappointed that the stunning collection of boxed 90s computer games were for Atari rather than Amiga, it’s one of the best retro games shops I’ve come across for stocking Evercade titles.
Regular readers may like to consider my thoughts on the difficulties of buying Evercade carts in shops.
You’ll find That Retro Game Shop in Unit 145, Grainger St, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5QW.
Meanwhile, check the Facebook page of this vintage gaming store if you’re planning a visit.
Retro gaming shops are spreading across the UK
These are just some of the best retro gaming shops in the UK that you should visit if you’re a retro gaming enthusiast. Each of these shops has its own unique collection of retro gaming consoles, games, and accessories that will take you back in time and bring back memories of the good old days of gaming.
Better still, these retro video game shops don’t look like jumble sales. If you have a suggestion to add to this list of the best UK retro game shops, contact us.
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